Botanical name: Tradescantia sillamontana
Family: Commelinaceae
Cobweb Spiderwort also called White Velvet or White Gossamer Plant is a small upright perennial plant which bears highly branched hairy stems.
The Cobweb Spiderwort leaves are oblong-lanceolate and are in the shape of a boat's keel and may have a purple tone.
The flowers in Cobweb Spiderwort Plant are borne at the end of the stems and are a deep pink color.
The entire Cobweb Spiderwort plant is covered by white hairs and hence the common names. Cobweb Spiderwort grows to a height of 30-40 cm.
Cobweb Spiderwort exhibits upright growth in the early stages of development but as it matures it exhibits prostrate growth and rooting at the soil surface.
Cobweb Spiderwort is endemic to dry areas of the State of Nuevo Len in northeastern Mexico and can also be found in Spain and Italy.
Cobweb Spiderwort prefers bright, indirect light. Keep your Cobweb Spiderwort away from direct sunshine as it can lead to scorching of the leaves. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Water your Cobweb Spiderwort thoroughly during the growing season and maintain the soil moist at all times.
Reduce watering your Cobweb Spiderwort during the cold weather to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal.
Avoid soggy soil for your Cobweb Spiderwort as it can lead to root-rot. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Average warmth with a minimum 130C is ideal for your Cobweb Spiderwort. Protect your Cobweb Spiderwort from cold draughts.
Cobweb Spiderwort has no need for high humidity. However, mist the leaves of your Cobweb Spiderwort or set the pot on a wet pebble tray where the temperatures are too high to raise humudity. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Feed your Cobweb Spiderwort with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks during the growing period.
Withhold feeding for your Cobweb Spiderwort during the cold season as the growth is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
Repot your Cobweb Spiderwort during the growing season only when the plant has become pot-bound.
Use a rich, free-draining soil and a pot one size larger for your Cobweb Spiderwort. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot.
Pruning your Cobweb Spiderwort involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat and tidy.
To control the growth of your Cobweb Spiderwort and encourage bushyness, pinch the growing tips.
Cut back leggy stems of your Cobweb Spiderwort at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.
Cobweb Spiderwort can be propagated during the growing period by plants divison or from stem-cuttings.
Take out your Cobweb Spiderwort from its pot and carefully divide it into sections. Ensure each sections has adequate roots and at least one set of leaves.
Pot the Cobweb Spiderwort sections in individual pots in free-draining soil.
Place the set up in a cool shaded place and maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges.
Allow the new Cobweb Spiderwort to be well established before transplanting.
Cobweb Spiderwort stem cuttings root easily so there is no need for rooting hormone.
Take a stem cutting from a healthy Cobweb Spiderwort of about 4-6 in. and ensure it bears at least two sets of leaves.
Fill your rooting container with free-draining rooting mix to a depth of about 4 in. Lightly moisten the soil.
With a pencil or similar object make a hole that is wider than the diameter of the Cobweb Spiderwort cutting.
Carefully insert your Cobweb Spiderwort cutting in the hole made previously to a depth of about 3 in.
Place the set up in a cool shaded place and maintain the soil moist through out until new growth emerges.
Allow the new Cobweb Spiderwort to be well established before transplanting to individual pots.
Inadequate light is the cause of loss of leaf color in your Cobweb Spiderwort.
Move your Cobweb Spiderwort to a brighter spot, as it prefers bright, indirect light. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Your Cobweb Spiderwort will readily drop its leaves if the light is inadequate.
Ensure to place your Cobweb Spiderwort in bright, indirect light while protecting it from direct hot sunshine to avoid scorching of the leaves.
There are three causes of weak spindly growth in your Cobweb Spiderwort.
One cause of elongated weak stems (spindly growth) in your Cobweb Spiderwort is too little light.
Move your Cobweb Spiderwort to a brighter spot as it need bright, indirect light.
The second cause of elongated weak stems (spindly growth) in your Cobweb Spiderwort is underwatering.
Maintain the soil moist at all times for your Cobweb Spiderwort and never allow the soil to dry out completely.
The third cause of elongated weak stems (spindly growth) in your Cobweb Spiderwort is inadequate feeding.
Feed your Cobweb Spiderwort once a month with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer.
Underwatering is the cause of limp stems, yellow and spotted leaves in your Cobweb Spiderwort.
Water your Cobweb Spiderwort liberally during the growing season and maintain the soil moist through out.
The most common plant diseases in Cobweb Spiderwort are Root-rot and Leaf Spot.
Common plant pests in Cobweb Spiderwort are Mealy Bugs, Aphids and Scale Insects.
Isolate the affected Cobweb Spiderwort and treat appropriately. Mist the leaves regularly to reduce infestation by these pests.
Tradescantia sillamontana (Cobweb Spiderwort) is mildly toxic to humans and pets.
If Cobweb Spiderwort is ingested the plant sap causes burning in the mouth, tongue and throat. The sap may also cause skin irritation in sensitive skin; always wear gloves when handling.
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